State-run construction firm Wijaya Karya (Wika) is looking to double its overseas contracts to about Rp 4 trillion (US$314 million) this year from Rp 1.8 trillion with the recent signing of new contracts in Malaysia and the Middle East. Wika corporate secretary Suradi said the new overseas projects would include a superblock in Kuching, Malaysia, …
China’s manufacturing gauge falls to 28-month low
A gauge of China’s manufacturing activity fell to a 28-month low in January amid economic slowdown, according to official data Sunday, although January typically is a month of slower activities as China’s factories prepare for the upcoming Lunar New Year celebrations. gauge – a device for measuring the amount or size of something China Federation …
US apple recall applies only to one producer
American apples are safe for consumption as the US apple recall applies only to one producer, the US Embassy in Jakarta has said. The embassy said in a statement that Bidart Bros voluntarily recalled Granny Smith and Gala apples because environmental testing revealed contamination with Listeria monocytogenes at the firm’s apple-packing facility in California. “The …
RI to double fish farming production in five years
The government has set a target to achieve 31 million tons of fish from farming in 2019, a two-fold increase compared to the archipelago’s yearly production. “In the next five years, [we aim] to jack up fish farming production to 31.3 million tons [per year], valued at Rp 365.8 trillion [US$28.67 billion],” said Coordinating Maritime …
Budi snubs KPK, waits for court
The deputy of the Corruption Eradication Commission’s (KPK) prevention unit, Johan Budi, slammed graft suspect Comr. Gen. Budi Gunawan for ignoring the agency’s summons for questioning on Friday. The National Police chief candidate’s excuse was that he had to wait for the results of a pretrial hearing scheduled for Monday, but Johan said this was …
Gemstone fever hits Jakarta
When Aris, 40, a Jakarta-based insurance company employee, went to East Kalimantan five months ago to visit a miner client, he was astounded by the sight of a rock outcrop at a coal mine. The client gave him a small piece of raw gemstone found at the site as a souvenir. “After I had the …
Govt to take harsh measures against tax evaders: VP
The government will take harsh actions against those evading payment of taxes, regardless of their social and economic backgrounds, says Vice President Jusuf Kalla. evade – to avoid something unpleasant or unwanted, or to manage not to do (something that should be done) He stressed that with the current implementation of “gizjeling”, meaning taxpayers would …
BPJS to add more benefits
The Workers Social Security Management Agency (BPJS TK) is preparing three government regulations to give additional benefits to workers participating in occupational social security programs. Besides providing occupational accident and death benefits to workers, BPJS TK will provide scholarships to children of workers who are physically disabled by or killed in occupational accidents. BPJS TK …
Ruling alliance in chaos
Political elites in the ruling coalition have launched a salvo of warnings against each other in an apparent ploy to reshape the political landscape in the next few months. As the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) has stepped up its pressure against President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, the former Jakarta governor met on Thursday with …
KPK to grill Gen. Budi on ‘spooky Friday’
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) said on Thursday that it would question National Police chief candidate Comr. Gen. Budi Gunawan for the first time as a graft suspect on Friday, three weeks after declaring him a suspect on Jan. 13. There are rumors that Budi will be detained soon after questioning, as the anti graft …